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Quickview: 'America's Next Top Model'

Verne Gay | Off Camera

September 3, 2008

THE SHOW " America's Next Top Model," tonight at 8, CW/11

REASON TO WATCH "Top Model's" first transgender contestant, Isis Tsunami

WHAT IT'S ABOUT Just to put this night in cosmic context - or at least, the cosmic context of The CW - Monday the network launched the second season of " Gossip Girl" (followed by the season premiere of "One Tree Hill"). Then last night brought forth the two-hour launch of buzz-factory newcomer, " Beverly Hills 90210" (or, Garbo-like, just "90210"), and Friday, "Smackdown" arrives. This is the most important week in The CW's life, but tonight may be the most important night for the network's survival. And it's now in Tyra Banks' hands. "90210" may stumble, and "GG" may still fail to get a Nielsen number ("Smackdown" is bulletproof), but "ANTM" must succeed. The future of CW depends on it. And succeed it will: The 11th cycle begins, and while critical sticks and stones may break some other shows' bones, "ANTM" thrusts out its skinny little hip as if to say, "Go ahead. Gimme your best shot." "ANTM" will do just fine. But nothing like an insurance policy. That's where Isis comes in. Originally described as a 22-year-old "assistant for a nonprofit," in fact we learn tonight that when the show did a shoot at a homeless shelter, she "participated in the background as an extra." Says Isis, "I was born physically male, but everything else is female. I was born to be female." The rest of the women are intrigued, and probably non-nonplussed, since she's the only one who's getting any press (or notoriety) this cycle. (For the record, the rest are: Analeigh Tipton, Brittany, Clark Gilmer, Elina, Hannah, Joslyn Pennywell, Lauren Brie Harding, Marjorie, McKey, Nikeysha Clarke, Samantha Potter, ShaRaun, Sheena Sakai.)

BOTTOM LINE The introduction of Isis feels more like a ratings gimmick than Banks' professed effort at transgender equality; and one can readily assume that a conversation took place between someone at parent CBS and someone at The CW in which the phrase "boost viewership for this show or your head will be on a platter" was probably uttered at least once. Oh, did I mention that "ANTM" shifts back to L.A., and to a very funky all-white space?